Quote:
Originally Posted by Redbaron
For my first documented progress I will show the beginnings of bed preparation.  To prepare it is easy as pie because there is no preparation! 
All you do is lay out a paper or cardboard barrier and roll out mulch over it. |
I just did something similar. I wanted to start a new 400 sq. ft. bed over hard clay. I pounded 12 inch stakes into the ground every 2 feet, covered with cardboard, covered the cardboard with 3 inches of compost, then covered the compost with 3 inches of wood chips, THEN planted a compost crop of inoculated legumes to get things started. I'm brewing AACT (compost tea) to really get my new garden to come to life.
I was surprised to see large earthworms after only a month. The stakes simulate roots. I got that idea from 'Edible Forest Landscapes' by Jacke.
I had a couple low places in my yard where water would stand for 3 or 4 days. After staking, it is only there for about 24-30 hours. This is after 3 months. I've made more progress with standing water in 90 days than in the last 11 years at this location by using this technique.
I'm a no-till gardener. If you till, I would NOT recommend using the stakes as it will wreck your tiller.